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Porter searching for best lineup combination

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Porter on Keuchel's outing 0:55

5/8/14: Bo Porter discusses Dallas Keuchel's performance and how he used his changeup well and shut down a good hitting lineup

By Brian McTaggart
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MLB.com |

BALTIMORE -- Astros manager Bo Porter is still looking for the right lineup combinations, which has been a challenge considering the team's offensive struggles. Porter put Matt Dominguez back in the No. 4 spot in the order Saturday after trying Chris Carter and Jesus Guzman there in recent days.

Dominguez entered Saturday hitting .333 (5-for-15) in his last four games, including a two-run homer Thursday in Detroit. He had a pair of doubles in Friday's series opener.

"I'm just trying to get someone that we can actually put there and leave them there that can drive in some runs with men in scoring position," Porter said. "Dominguez has swung the bat much better now. I'm just trying to find someone to drive in runs."

"With a young guy it could," he said. "I always try to tell them, and this is more of a mental thing than anything, just hit the way you're going to hit. If you come up with two men on base and you're hitting eighth, it doesn't matter where you're hitting."

Porter also dropped Jonathan Villar back to the bottom of the lineup Saturday after he hit second the previous two games. Porter said it had nothing to do with the performance of Villar, who was unable to get a key bunt down in the sixth inning Friday, but rather that catcher Jason Castro had returned to the top of the lineup after sitting out two games.